Chivas USA 1-1 Colorado Rapids: Nine-man Chivas holds on for draw

By Seth Vertelney

In a bizarre game with three red cards and a missed penalty kick, the Goats managed to hang on for a draw.

Nine-man Chivas USA held on for a 1-1 draw at home against 10-man Colorado in a wild affair at the StubHub Center.

Chivas got off to a fantastic start, as Carlos Alvarez put the home side up a goal. The rookie collected a pass and curled a left-footed effort past the diving Clint Irwin and into the far corner.

The Goats would then begin to self destruct. First, Steve Purdy Ramos inexplicably lifted his arm well above his head and spiked a Rapids corner kick away. From the ensuing penalty, Dan Kennedy saved his defender's blushes by stopping Deshorn Brown's low shot.

But just minutes later, Gabriel Farfan got himself a straight red in what was surely one of the worst tackles of the season. With the ball long gone, Farfan saw Shane O'Neill and stepped high up on his leg, causing an awkward and knee-buckling landing. The U.S. youth international was lucky to escape serious injury.

Just as the second half started, the Rapids gave the man advantage away. Tony Cascio raised his boot into a challenge and although it appeared he got the ball, Chris Penso showed a second yellow and it was 10 against 10.

Luckily for Colorado, Chivas wasn't through self destructing. After failing to get a call in his favor, on the ensuing play, Tristan Bowen spit on his opponent on the sideline after the ball had gone out of play. Unfortunately for Bowen, his act was right in front of the linesman, who called Penso over to dole out the red.

After several good chances went begging, the Rapids would finally find the breakthrough with 10 minutes to play. Chris Klute was given plenty of time to pick out a cross from the left flank, and Martin Rivero was on the end of it with a well-directed header.